In Spain, in Madrid, not only is snow scarce, but the amount dumped by storm Filomena is such that the whole region is paralyzed. Fifty centimeters have fallen in places, trees and power lines have been torn off, no public transport, no car, and temperatures below zero: the Spanish capital is petrified, impractical. Except that life goes on, in hospitals, in particular, where caregivers have been forced to extend their guards, again and again, those who had to relieve them being stuck at home.
¡¡Esto es vocación !! Nuestro resi de Cirugía Torácica y Cardiaca que, además de ser a great medico, es a great atleta!
Una vez más, JUNTOS, saldremos de esta! #SomosPuertadeHierro#Filomena pic.twitter.com/wOBNEF4eu2– Paz Maese (@pmaese) January 9, 2021
This was the case with Dr. Alvaro Sanchez, in his thirties, a surgical intern, who, on Saturday, decided despite everything to join his colleagues and attempt the great crossing, in the storm, on foot, running. 17 kilometers of a journey usually completed by car, between his home and the hospital of Puerta de Hierro, in parka and après-ski. A few meters from the finish, he sends a short video to his colleagues: “That’s it !, he launches, after 1 hour 45 minutes in the fresh snow, I am reaching the hospital, I will finally be able to start my shift “. By the way, 17 kilometers in 1 hour 45 minutes in powder snow is a sporting feat, but Alvaro Sanchez did not take the time to talk about it. He did not have time … because, like thousands of other caregivers, he is overwhelmed with patients: the snow obviously did not stop the Covid-19 epidemic. 10 to 15,000 new cases confirmed daily. This is also what pushed him to brave the storm. He is not the only one.
Morally, I could not stay at home knowing that my colleagues had been working for 26 hours straight.
Raul Alcojor, nursing assistant in a hospital in Madridon Cadena Ser radio
On social networks, videos of caregivers walking to their hospital have multiplied: twenty kilometers for a nurse, six for another at night. And fourteen for Raul, a caregiver who explained on the radio Cadena Ser that “morally” he could not stay at home knowing that his colleagues had been working for 26 straight hours. If we were looking for a definition of words “vocation”, “dedication”, “solidarity”, we don’t have better. “modesty” also, since none of these caregivers posted their exploit on the internet. It was witnesses, colleagues, passers-by who did so, to say “watch what our heroes are doing”. For who would still need proof.
